Electrically timed mixing device



Oct. 26, 1965 F. w. JAMISON 3,214,143

ELECTRICALLY TIMED MIXING DEVICE Filed Sept. 14, 1964 I III IH IIIIHIHHH! INVENTOR FRED W. JAMISON BY W $1..

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,214,143 ELECTRICALLY TIMED MIXING DEVICE Fred W. Jamison, 1226 Holy Cross Drive, Monroeville, Pa.

Filed Sept. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 396,037 3 Claims. (Cl. 259-1) This invention relates to a means for apparatus for mixing drinks, hot cakes or soup mixes and to employ a conventional two-speed mixing device, a tank having a supply of milk or water serving to dilute the mix and means automatically actuated to control a predetermined amount of water or milk into a bowl of the mixer and to further control the rotary mixer to first establish a low speed for a predetermined length of time and then a high speed for the final and complete mixing of ingredients that are deposited in the bowl of the mixer.

The invention contemplates a novel circuitry employing conventional timing devices, and with the circuitry being in continuity to first activate a pump or solenoid valve from a receptacle and that is so timed, that the pump or solenoid valve will inject a predetermined amount of fluid into the bowl of the mixer and then to deactivate the solenoid and activate a low speed through the motor of the mixer for a predetermined length of time and then to be deactivated and energized a second speed through the motor of the mixer, all being controlled from a single switch.

The drawings illustrate a diagrammatic view of the several component elements and their method of continuity of circuits.

Referring specifically to the drawings, there has been illustrated a conventional electric mixing device, shown at 5 having a removable mixing bowl 6. Disposed adjacent the bowl 6 is a preferably stainless steel tank 7, that may contain water or milk. The tank 7 is provided with a motor 8, driving a rotary centrifugal pump 9 that is disposed adjacent the bottom of the tank 7. From the pump 9, there is provided a fluid pump line 9' that terminates in a spout 9a that overlies the bowl 6. While the fluid discharge is controlled by the motor 8, it will be clearly understood that the tank 7 may be at an upper elevation and having a suitable outlet that is controlled by a solenoid valve.

The actuating mechanism for the :system embodies timer elements A, B and C. Each of the elements A, B and C are provided with contacts 10 and 11. The contacts 11 of each element are connected to a common ground conductor 12. Each of the elements A, B and C are provided with upper terminals 13 and 14 and intermediate terminals 15 and 16. Disposed within each of the elements A, B and C are solenoid windings 17 and with each of the winding 17 controlling an armature 18 in a downward direction and upon deenergization of the winding 17, a conventional spring biases the armature 18 upwardly toward the terminals 13 and 14. Each of the windings 17 are grounded to the conductor 12 through the terminals 11. The armatures 18 carry a contact bar 19. The contact bar 19 is adapted to bridge the contacts 15 and 16, when the windings 17 are energized and to bridge the contacts 13 and 14 when the windings 17 are de-energized.

The numeral 21 illustrates a double pole single-throw switch of conventional construction, embodying a suitable push button having a bridging contact 23 for contacts 24 and 25. This switch is normally open and the contact 23 is connected at 26 to the positive conductor 27 of the source of electrical energy. From the contact 25, the current flows through a conduct-or 28 to the contact 13 and to the contact 16, a positive electrical conductor 29 has connection with the contact 14 to the contact 13 of the timer element B and also to the contact 16 of the timer element B. A positive conductor 30 leads from the contact 14 of the timer element B to the contact 16 of the timer element C. In timer element A, a conductor 31 leads from the contact 15 of timer A to the motor 8 and a negative conductor 32 leads from the motor 8 to the negative terminal 12. Each of the terminals 10 from the coils 17 are connected to a common conductor 33 that is connected to the switch element 24 of the control swich 21.

The second timer element B is provided with a conductor 34, leading from the contact 15, to the low speed side of the mixer device 5 and the mixer device is grounded through a conductor 36, having a common ground connection with the connection 12. The contact 15 of timer C is connected to a conductor 37, leading to the high speed side of the mixer device 5. Each of the timer elements A, B and C are adjustable as to timing but the coil 17 is controlling the contact bar 19 and it is contemplated, that the timing cycle of the timer element A is suflicient to actuate the pump 8 to eject a predetermined quantity of fluid to the mixing bowl 6, the timer device B being adjustable to actuate the mixing device 5 at a low speed for a predetermined number of seconds and then to de-energize certain of the contacts to actuate the high speed side of the motor of the mixer.

In use, a suitable plug on the conductors 12 and 27 is inserted into a particular receptacle for furnishing the electrical energy to the system. The switch 21 is activated bridging the contacts 26 and 24 causing a flow of current from the conductor 27 and through the conductors 33 to one side of the solenoid windings 17, causing the armature 18 in each of the timing devices to shift downwardly for bridging the contacts 15 and 16 and opening the contacts 13 and 14 in each of the elements A, B and C. The elements A, B and C are of the conventional circuit control means known as Agastats and wherein the armatures are so timed after contacting the contacts 15 and 16 are released and moved upwardly by the conventional spring device used in timer elements and after the predetermined number of seconds and after the switch 21 has been released to contact contact 25, suflicient fluid has been pumped from the pump 9 to be deposited in the bowl 6 and after a predetermined number of seconds and after the winding 17 have been deenergized, the armature is biased upwardly to bridge the contacts 13 and 14. When the bar 19 in element A is moved down and the switch 21 is released, electric energy will flow through the conductors 28 to the contact 16 and through the contact 15, through the conductor 31 to the motor 8 then through the conductor 32 back to the negative conductor 12, actuating the pump for a predetermined number of seconds and to eject the fluid into the bowl 6 of the mixer. When the solenoid windings 17 are de-activated in element A, the armature is shifted upwardly to bridge contacts 13 and 14 and then electrical energy will flow through the conductor 28, to the contact 13, through the contact 14, conductor 29 and to the contact 13 of element B. Since the winding of element B has moved the bar 19 downwardly to bridge contacts 15 and 16, current will flow through the conductor 29, to the contact 16, through the bar 19, to conductor 34 and to contact 35 of the low speed side of the mixer 5 and then to the negative conductor 36 back to the conductor 12. When the coil 17 of the solenoid of element B has timed out, the bar 19 will be shifted upwardly to bridge contacts 13 and 14, establishing a continuity of circuit through conductor 29, through contact 14, conductor 30 to contact 16 of timer element C and since the bar 19 of timer element C has already been shifted downwardly by the coil 17, current will flow through the conductor 29, contact 13 and con tact 14 of element B, through conductor 30 to contact 16 of element C, through the bar 19 of element C, to contact 15 and then through conductor wire 37 to the high speed side of the motor of the mixer 5 and then to the negative conductor 36 thus, by activating the switch 21, the entire system is placed in operation, energizing each of the solenoid windings 17, shifting the bars 19 downwardly to first activate the first timing element A to energize the pump and then, after the first timer element has timed out, the bar 19 will be shifted upwardly in the first element A to bridge the contacts 13 and 14 and establish a continuity of circuit from the conductors 27 and 28 to the second timer element B and since the bars 19 of the second timer element B is in a lowered position under the influence of the coil 17, the current will flow through this device to the first or low speed side of the motor in the mixing device 5. Since the timer element B is for a relatively short period of operation of the lower speed motor, the coil 17 of the timer element C will still remain in contact with contacts 15 and 16, permitting the flow of current from element B to element C that activates the high speed Winding of the motor within the mixer device 5. The switch 21, when the arm 23 is shifted, will bridge the contacts 26 and 24 and establish a circuit to the several windings 17 which is so timed as to activate the motor 8, and then releases the bars 19 to bridge the contacts 13 and 14 to establish a continuity of circuit to the timer elements B and C each of which have been so timed as to their respective operation as to actuate the motor within the mixer 5 for a predetermined number of seconds for an initial mix of the ingredients in the bowl and then to interrupt the flow of current from element B to cause the flow of current to be directed to the element C for the actuation of the high speed side of the motor for a predetermined number of seconds.

It will be apparent, that the double pole single throw switch 21 embodies the flexible arm 23 that is shifted by a suitable button from contact 25 to contact 24, energizing all of the winding 17 and causing the bars 19 to make contact with each pair of contacts 15 and 16 and then the button is released and the arm 23 again establishes contact with the contact 25, causing electricity to flow from the conductor 27, through the switch 21, to the conductor 28 and each of the elements A, B and C are adjustably timed with respect to the armatures 18 and the bars 19 so that in each of the elements, the bars 19 are shifted to bridge the contacts 15 and 16. In the element A, the timing is such that the motor 8 is first energized to pump the required amount of milk or other fluid to the mixer bowl 6, and being relatively short in time, the element A will be released and the bar 19 shifted to bridge the contacts 13 and 14, causing the flow of electricity through the conductor 28 and through the contacts 13 and 14 to element B through conductor 29 and since the bar 19 of element B is in bridged engagement with the contacts 15 and 16, the current will fiow through contacts 15 and 16 to the low speed side of the mixer 5 and when element B has timed out, the bar 19 will shift upwardly, bridging contacts 13 and 14 and current will then flow through the conductor 29, conductors 13 and 14 of element B and then through conductor 30 to element C and contacts 15 and 16 and through the high speed side of the mixer 5. Before this happens, the element B has timed out and has interrupted the flow of current to the low speed side of the mixers, establishing a continuity of circuit through the conductors 13 and 14 to the contacts 15 and 16 which are presently in bridged relation to the bar 19 of element C and current will then flow to the high speed side of the mixer and to the ground conductor 36 and 12. When the high speed side of the mixer device 5 has operated a predetermined number of seconds, the element C will time out and the bar 19 then shifted upwardly, interrupting the flow of current to the mixer device. The ingredients disposed within the bowl 6 are then removed and used in accordance with the particular mixture. It should be understood that the mixer 5 may be employed in mixing any ingredients such as pancake mix, milk shakes or the like.

As an example, pancakes may be mixed in predetermined quantities such as a stack of three. The pancake mix may consist of the following ingredients:

(A) 4 /2 ounces of wheat flour (white) (B) 1 /2 ounces corn flour (yellow) (C) 1 ounce of rice flour (D) /2 ounce of rye fiour (E) 2 ounces of whole dry milk (F 1% ounces powdered butter milk (G) ltsp. salt (H) 1 tsp. of sugar (I) 1 tsp. mon. calcium phosphate (J) 1 /2 tsp. sodium bicarbonate (baking soda).

These ingredients may be sold in dry form to the user. This forms the dry ingredients for one unit and larger units would be employed by simple multiplication and the ingredients stated constitute a package sufficient to make three ounces, enough for one order of pancakes. The procedure then is to break an egg into the mixer bowl, add one tablespoon of melted butter, actuate the timer elements by the switch 21 and then add the dry ingredients together with the quantity of milk injected into the bowl 6 by the motor 8 and this is thoroughly mixed, furnishing six ounces of batter, enough for one order of pancakes or a nine inch square waflie.

In large restaurants or chain operations where more control is needed, batter can be made in quantities by the same process only without the leavening agent, soda bicarbonate. When an order is desired, six ounces of this batter could be poured into the mixer bowl, the measured amount of soda bicarbonate added and after mixing would immediately be baked on a griddle assuring a perfect order of hot cakes or waflie.

When anything has been described as flat, the expression fiat as a pancake has always been used. In reality, the only fiat pancake is a bad pancake. A good pancake is raised by countless tiny bubbles caused by chemical reaction, aerating and heat. When a pancake is baked while these bubbles are still in the batter, the result is a light, flutfy pancake just as in all types of cakes. If pancake batter is allowed to stand, the bubbles explode and disappear, leaving a had, slightly gaseous taste. Therefore all pancakes should be baked right after they are mixed. The present application is intended to simplify and make more fool-proof the same idea for perfect pancakes as is intended and for restaurant use primarily.

The purpose of activating the low speed side of the mixer after the ingredients have been placed therein is to prevent the batter from splashing over the top of the bowl 6 and then after the mixing has begun, the timer element B is timed out and the element C is automatically connected to the high speed side of the mixer 5. The mechanism employed effectively control the several steps of first injecting the milk into the bowl 6. Then the dry ingredients and then the motor 8 is de-energized and the mixer starts its initial low speed rotation after which the element C takes over, on the high speed side to complete the mixing of the ingredients and the time cycle is obviously determined by the several automatically actuated timer elements A, B and C. The only requirement is that the switch 21 be initially activated and then released and the operation 'of the device is then continuous. The structure is simple, cheap to manufacture and most effective for producing a complete mixing of hot cake batter or of course, the device could be employed to mix the well known milk shakes or the like.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. An electrically controlled timer mechanism for fluid mixing devices, comprising an electric mixer having a low speed and a high speed, a removable mixing bowl disposed upon the mixer, a fluid tank adjacent to the mixer, a pump in the tank for forcing the fluid in a predetermined quantity to the bowl, a motor for driving the pump, a group of electrical timers and a double pole single throw switch for energizing the timers from a source of electrical energy, a first timer device being energized to actuate the pump motor and to force the fluid into the bowl and to simultaneously energize a second and third timer device for energizing a low speed side of the mixer and then a high speed side of the mixer when the second timer is automatically timed out to interrupt the flow of electricity to the mixer.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the several timers are identical, each of the timers embodying a solenoid that are simultaneously energized to shift contact bars to bridge a pair of adjacent contacts and a predetermined timing to shift the contact bars upward to bridge other adjacent contacts, the said switch being connected to a source of electrical energy and with the switch having a spring arm that is connected to the source of energy and normally biased toward one contact and when shifted to an opposite contact to energize all of the solenoids and so timed as to maintain the several bars in bridging relation to the first contacts and when the spring arm is released, to energize the motor for the pump, the first timer after a predetermined number of seconds directing electrical energy to a second timer for energizing a low speed drive to the mixer and the second timer after a predetermined number of seconds then de-activating the low speed of the mixer and establishing a flow of energy to the high speed side of the mixer through the third timer and after a predetermined cycle of time the third timer interrupts the flow of energy to the high speed side of the mixer and de-energizes all of the timers.

3. A mixing device for hot cake batter or the like that comprises an electric mixer having a motor for driving the mixer and with the motor having a low speed side and a high speed side, a removable bowl supported upon the mixer, a fluid supply tank adjacent to the mixer and with the tank having a submerged pump, a motor for driving the pump, a fluid line from the pump to the bowl of the mixer, timer elements associated with the pump and the mixer, the timer elements being three in number and identically constructed, each of the timer elements embody a solenoid winding having an armature and with the armature being provided with a contact bar, the solenoids being provided with timer means whereby the contact bars 'of each of the solenoids will be maintained in a downward position during the operation of the timer means and to be biasedupwardly for bridging upper contacts, an actuating switch having a contact pole for connection with a positive source of electrical energy, the switch also embodying spaced apart contacts, a spring arm movable between the contacts, the spring arm when shifted in one direction establishing a flow of electrical energy to all of the solenoids and with the several solenoids being connected to a negative conductor, the several bars being movable downwardly when the solenoids are energized, the several bars when shifted downwardly by the solenoids first establishing a flow of electrical energy through a pair of contacts, to the motor and from the motor to the negative contact, the first timer element when timed out shifting the bar upwardly to bridge other contacts that establishes a flow of electrical energy to a second timer element and to a low speed side of the mixer, the second timer element when timed out establishing contact with a pair of upper contacts and to establish a flow of electrical energy to the third timer element and to the high speed side of the mixer, the second timer element when timed out, de-energizing the low speed side of the motor and the third timer element establishing a fiow of electrical energy to the high speed side of the mixer, and when the third timer element has timed out, the energy to the mixer is interrupted, the said switch being a double pole single throw arm that is normally biased toward a fixed contact that energizes all of the timer elements, the said switch arm when shifted normally to a second contact serving to energize the several solenoids and to shift the bars downwardly to bridge one pair of contacts and then to automatically shift upwardly when the timer elements are activated to move the bars upwardly for bridging a second pair of contacts, the mixer bowl first receiving hot cake mix and then to actuate the motor for forcing the fluid from the tank into the mixer and then to actuate the mixer upon a low speed for a predetermined number of seconds and to then deenergize the mixer motor and to establish a flow of electrical energy to the high speed side of the mixer and a predetermined number of seconds, the bowl 'of the mixer then being removed to permit the contents to be poured upon a cooking surface.

. References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,689,321 9/54 Vogel 259102 2,807,447 9/57 Vaughan 259105 CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Examiner. 

1. AN ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED TIMER MECHANISM FOR FLUID MIXING DEVICES, COMPRISING AN ELECTRIC MIXER HAVING A LOW SPEED AND A HIGH SPEED, A REMOVABLE MIXING BOWL DISPOSED UPON THE MIXER, A FLUID TANK ADJACENT TO THE MIXER, A PUMP IN THE TANK FOR FORCING THE FLUID IN A PREDETERMINED QUANTITY TO THE BOWL, A MOTOR FOR DRIVING THE PUMP, A GROUP OF ELECTRICAL TIMERS AND A DOUBLE POLE SINGLE THROW SWITCH FOR ENERGIZING THE TIMERS FROM A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY, A FIRST TIMER DEVICE BEING ENERGIZED TO ACTUATE THE PUMP MOTOR AND TO FORCE THE FLUID INTO THE BOWL AND TO SIMULTANEOUSLY ENERGIZE A SECOND AND THIRD TIMER DEVICE FOR ENERGIZING A LOW SPEED SIDE OF THE MIXER AND THEN A HIGH SPEED SIDE OF THE MIXER WHEN THE SECOND TIMER IS AUTOMATICALLY TIMED OUT TO INTERRUPT THE FLOW OF ELECTRICITY TO THE MIXER. 